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A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground. They are much smaller than other strong, rotating storms such as hurricanes, and unlike hurricanes, which are their own storm systems, they depend on a larger parent storm. Tornadoes are usually made visible by a condensation funnel or funnel cloud, along with a cloud of dust and debris that may be kicked up.

Most tornadoes form from a type of powerful, rotating thunderstorm called a supercell. These thunderstorms can also produce damaging hail and straight-line winds. Most tornadoes form over land, but can form over water in which case they are called waterspouts

When it touches down, a tornado can do great damage, destroying houses and lifting cars into the air for distances of over a kilometer, though only the most violent of tornadoes can do this. though only the most violent of tornadoes can do this. though only the most violent of tornadoes can do this.

Tornadoes are rated based on the Enhanced Fujita scale based on the severity of the damage they cause, ranging from an EF0, which causes minor damage, to an EF5, with winds over 200 mph (320 km/h) which causes total devastation.

While most tornadoes are no more than a few hundred yards in diameter and last only a few minutes, some can be over a mile wide land last for over an hour. Because they can form in minutes or even seconds tornadoes are among the hardest storms to predict.

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